Portable fare-collecting apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.'

Pa ten ted-Feb. 24, 1880;

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N-PEIERS, PNOTO-UTHDG RAF RER WASHINGTON, n. c

2 Sheets-SheetZ. A. G. FARNS WORTH.- Portabl-e Fare-Collecting Apparatus.

NQ. 224,770. Paten'ted Feb. 24; 1880-.

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wrmassas lLPiTERS, PilDTO-uYI-IOGRAPMER. WASHINGI'ON, D c

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nunnnw o. FARNSW'ORTH, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

. PORTABLE FARE-COLLECTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpartof Letters Patent No..224,770, dated February 24:, 1880.

i i i l Application filed December 17, 1 878.

State of Illinois, have invented certain Im- 1 their junction directly provements in Portable Fare-Collecting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention will be fully understood from the accompanying drawings and the subjoined description. y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 aside view, of my improved fare-collector. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the same; and Fig. 4, a vertical section upon the line {B x of Fig.3,facing in the direction of the arrow. Figs, 5 and 6 are respectively plan and side views of a modified form apparatus.

Like letters indicate like partsin all the figures in which they are used.

The parts of my apparatus containing the operative mechanisms of the fare-receiving of: my

platforms, the register,fand the ,bellare inclosed in a metal cover, A, at the top of which is the funnel A for the insertion of the fare, and at the side the handle A whereby the conductor holds the apparatus when collecting the fares. The funnel A is centrally placed, as shown. I

Below the funnel, with the apex formed by at the opening thereof,

are two inclined leaves, B, preferably of hard rubber or blackened metal, each hinged at the apex to the side plates, B, and extending down to the plate-glass windows B at each side of the apparatus. These windows are placed at the same inclined plane as the leaves, and there is formed between them and the leaves an inclined shallow chamber, 0, into which the fare 'falls as it issues from the funnel, and wherein it is compelled to lie flat upon the leaf,'directly under the window, and in such position that it can be inspected to good advantage. The funnel being so immediately over the windows enables me to utilize the surface of the funnels to reflect light upon the coin.

By nickel-plating the funnel a surface is obtained which thus aids materially in throw- .5

ing a strong light upon the coin.' The blackened background of the leaves also aids in this result.

The coin, when sufficiently examined, is dropped by the conductor into a flexible receiver or bag, D, the lower ends of the leaves being lowered for the purpose by the action of the vertical rod E and the toggle 0, (shown in Fig. 4 in dotted lines,) connected to the rod and depressed therewith by the conductors thumb. The pivots by which the toggle ends are joined to the leaves work in slots 6 in one of the side plates, B.

Below the leaves, and between them. and the receiving bag, is an inverted hollow coneshaped metal bottom piece, open at its lower center to allow the coin to pass through, but

otherwise closing the operating parts against access from below. This bottom piece, F, tits the interior of the'cover A, and is suitably fastened thereto by fastenings excluded from the conductor. When the coin drops from the leaf it is received upon the inclined inner surface of this bottom, and is guided thereby to the opening into the bag. Below this opening f, and suspended thereatin such manner that they incline toward each other, and so prevent the re-entrance of coin into the metal parts of the apparatus by the tipping up of the same, are two leaves, f, the attachment to the part F being by means of inclined pins f These leaves are given a limited amount of movement upon the pins, by which they at all times, whatever may be the position of the apparatus, tend to close the opening f. They do not impede the entrance of the coin into the bag, but prevent the fraudulent Withdrawal of the same therefrom byreversing the apparatus, and are always an impediment to any attempt at such fraud. When reversed the gravity will bring them together, and they thus become selt acting. As a further precaution against peculations of this kind, I contemplate using a frame-work of wire, or an equivalent device, which will surround the opening f and leaves f and effectuallypre vent all tampering with the money which has been deposited in the bag. The bag is secured to the metal parts by a bracelet, G, locked by any suitable lock sealed to the conductor, and held in a groove in the part A, or upon projections thereon, or in some other suitable manner.

The usual register H, visible through the window it, and the bell I, both suitably attached to the thumb-rod E, or connected therewith by mechanism operated thereby, are also employed in my apparatus.

It will be noticed that no obstacle exists to the withdrawal of the coin at any time before it is dropped from the tiltii'ig-leaf. This permits the rectification of mistakes before the coin has passed beyond the conductors control by simply upturning the apparatus.

In the modification shown the changes are principally in the shape of the metal parts. By making the back where the handle is attached straight instead otroundin g, more room is afforded for the register, and, consequently, greater perfection can be given to the mechanism thereof.

The flexible faredeposit enables the conductor to carry it in his pocket when not actually using it, and it conforms to the amount of coin in it, taking up only such an amount of room as is required by the accumulated fares. The apparatus is thus rendered less unwieldy than it would he were it rigid in all its parts.

By giving the sides of the funnel the same angle or inclination as the leaves B the return of the coin for the correction of mistakes is facilitated.

I claim- 1. In a portable fare-box, a case, A, having a top with two oblique sides, with glazed openings B and a receiving-funnel, A, at the apex, combined with leaves B, beneath said funnel, and parallel with said oblique top plates, to

constitute shallow parallel-sided inspectionchambers O, as shown and described.

2. In a portable fare-box, a case, A, having an oblique-sided top with glazed openings B and leaves B, parallel therewith, to constitute shallow inspection-chambers C, said leaves be- 0 ing hinged at a point near their proximate edges, combined with a piston, E, and toggle 6, whereby said leaves are moved, as set forth.

3. In a portable fare-box, a case, A, having a receiving-slit and inspection-cl'iamber at the top, and a removable receptacle, D, below a funnel-shaped bottom, F, for said case, and a discharge-opening, f, therein, combined with plates f f, loosely connected to said bottom F, whereby said opening f will be closed and Witnesses H. M. MUNDAY,

EDWARD S. EvAR'rs. 

